Office for National Statistics research: Total pay and bonuses on the rise

Total pay and bonuses rose by 2.3% for the three months to March 2011, according to the Labour market statistics from the Office for National Statistics.

Annual growth rate for regular pay, excluding bonuses, was 2.1% for the three months to March 2011, down from 2.2% for the three months to February.

The annual growth rate for total pay in the finance and business services sector increased from 4.6% to 6.2%.

Total private sector earnings, including bonuses, was £466 per week in March 2011, an increase of 2.2% on a year earlier.

Total public sector earnings, including bonuses, was £481 per week in March 2011, an increase of 2.4% from a year earlier.

Nigel Meager, director of the Institute for Employment Studies, said: “The UK labour market showed considerable resilience in the early stages of the recent recession.

“Despite the depth of the downturn, employment held up better than expected, and better than in previous recessions. Many businesses made efforts to retain staff during the downturn through pay freezes, short-time working and similar measures.”